Dariusz Wdowczyk

[Ian Royal]

....well he was really, apart from one game

Nah, he was a bit too casual and prone to getting caught out, and not quite as cultured. But close.

exactly - that is the difference between a classy ball playing defender and a liability

He had his bad games, but overall he was far from a liability.

[West_Reading]

Zurab was a class act. He had two bad games. At home to Norwich and then the Wembley game.

Back on topic, DW was class. I fell in love with the club when I was a little kid and his style of play really made and impression on me even at that young age of about seven.

[Royal Rother]

great player, at the time it set my expectation of what a RFC centre back should be like, as it transpired it was clearly a one off...although the closest (ie proper ball playing centre back) subsequently was Zurab - but he just wasn't as good.

Keith Curle!!

[Terminal Boardom]

great player, at the time it set my expectation of what a RFC centre back should be like, as it transpired it was clearly a one off...although the closest (ie proper ball playing centre back) subsequently was Zurab - but he just wasn't as good.

Keith Curle!!

Made to look all the more impressive as he played alongside Martin Hicks. To think that Curle started out as a left winger at Torquay if I am not mistaken.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Anyone know where can get list of games he played in? Just want to see if memory serves me right and he scored against exeter (i think) at elm park in 1-0 win?

IIRC, Dariusz never scored for Reading and only played for us in the second tier, so that excludes Exeter. I think Jeff Hopkins scored the winner in the game you are thinking of in 93/94.

Think it was Hartenberger who scored in that 1-0 game...

[Negative_Jeff]

Here is good wheeze; select a team from the 1995 vintage and todays. My head said Skippy but the heart said Kebe and sorry ALF but I aint seen you play, This team in a 3-5-2:

Shaka

Williams
Wdowczyk
Gorkss

Kebe
Taylor
Osborn
Gooding
Gilkes

Nogan
Lovell

[PEARCEY]

Great pace outwide there Jeff but I think you would be asking Mick Gooding to one heck of a lot of defensive work in that line-up.

[FiNeRaIn]

Shaka

Williams
Wdowczyk
Gorkss

Kebe
Taylor
Osborn
Gooding
Gilkes

Nogan
Lovell

Thats pretty insulting...he hasn't even made a home appearance. Definitely worth the ignore button for that howler.

[Negative_Jeff]

Oh dear, I didn`t want to get technical. Gorkss played OK up at Hull and he is a left footer. But you are right and I struggle to include any of today`s players.

[Ian Royal]

Here is good wheeze; select a team from the 1995 vintage and todays. My head said Skippy but the heart said Kebe and sorry ALF but I aint seen you play,

Barring Le Fondre as we've not seen him yet, or Gorkss as I've not see him yet either....- I'm assuming 95 is pre-PO Final, which means I may struggle as I only ever saw crap Gilkes, and Taylor & Osborn once.

Shaka
Griffin, Williams, Wdowczyk, Kerr
Kebe, Gooding, Leigertwood, McAnuff,
Osborn/Taylor
Quinn

Sorry Gilkes, I never got to see you when you were genuinely good.

[Royal With Cheese]

Sorry Gilkes, I never got to see you when you were genuinely good.

I saw every game he played for the Royals bar a handful and neither did I.

[Franchise FC]

Sorry Gilkes, I never got to see you when you were genuinely good.

I saw every game he played for the Royals bar a handful and neither did I.

You must have REALLY big hands

[grey_squirrel]

Osborne and Taylor were a class centre mid partnership definately on a par with Sidwell/Harper.

Never forget Scotty's 80 yard steaming run very late on at the Tranmere defence in the SF PO in 1995 in the mud at Elm Park. Did everything but score! Tremendous speed, agility and stamina.

Shame they both fell to the billy big boots syndrome and thought they could do better elsewhere........and didn't. Taylor was a local lad and unfortunately succombed to a terminal knee injury not long after he left us. A real shame. A real talent. Got the feeling he never really appreciated the Southbank though unlike Dylan.

[Royal Rother]

For me, Taylor had one really good season but didn't really shine the rest of the time he was with us. But, with Williams, it was great at the time to see a couple of local lads come through to the 1st team.

[Terminal Boardom]

Here is good wheeze; select a team from the 1995 vintage and todays. My head said Skippy but the heart said Kebe and sorry ALF but I aint seen you play, This team in a 3-5-2:

Shaka

Williams
Wdowczyk
Gorkss

Kebe
Taylor
Osborn
Gooding
Gilkes

Nogan
Lovell

Bit harsh on Keith MacPherson. His pace allowed him to cover both Dariusz and Adie. And I would have gone with Skippy at RWB as he was far better defensively than Kebe ever could be.

Talking of this line up, does anyone remember Michael Gilkes' testimonial - one of the many last games at Elm Park? IIRC, Mark McGhee reassembled the 94/5 side and played against the then current team. IIRC, it was an embarrassment with our current squad chasing shadows for much of the game.

Can you imagine the carnage if the 2005/06 squad played against our current team? THAT, my friends, is how far down we have slipped.

[Platypuss]

Can you imagine the carnage if the 2005/06 squad played against our current team? THAT, my friends, is how far down we have slipped.

The best level 2 team there has ever been would probably murder any other current championship team too, so not sure what point you're trying to make.

[Terminal Boardom]

Can you imagine the carnage if the 2005/06 squad played against our current team? THAT, my friends, is how far down we have slipped.

The best level 2 team there has ever been would probably murder any other current championship team too, so not sure what point you're trying to make.

The point I am trying to make is that there are distinct similarities between the demise of Reading FC after the 94/95 play-off team was dismantled and the recent dismantling of the club. Something similar happened as well after 86/87 which, at the time, was our highest ever finish in the fole football league structure. To coin a phrase, what happened next?

[Ian Royal]

Can you imagine the carnage if the 2005/06 squad played against our current team? THAT, my friends, is how far down we have slipped.

The best level 2 team there has ever been would probably murder any other current championship team too, so not sure what point you're trying to make.

The point I am trying to make is that there are distinct similarities between the demise of Reading FC after the 94/95 play-off team was dismantled and the recent dismantling of the club. Something similar happened as well after 86/87 which, at the time, was our highest ever finish in the fole football league structure. To coin a phrase, what happened next?

Not really. We'd overachieved in one season. We lost the core of our talent in one go, didn't replace it with Div one talent, didn't have the money or infrastructure to survive and immediately dropped to being involved in relegation battles for a couple of seasons before we finally lost the battle.

This time, we've gradually sold off the core of our talent, developing other players to replace it. We've brought Championship quality players in. We've continued to be a top half side and have not had a one off good season based on terrific form from a promotion carrying us on.

[Gordons Cumming]

Osborne and Taylor were a class centre mid partnership definately on a par with Sidwell/Harper.

.

hmmmmmm..........................?

[Hoop Blah]

Osborne and Taylor were a class centre mid partnership definately on a par with Sidwell/Harper.

.

hmmmmmm..........................?

Not far off it, although seeing that I don't think they ever played as part of a two man midfield (ie without either a Gooding or Parky mopping up behind them) I think it's impossible to really compare properly.